The Wolf and the Crane by Leo Tolstoy
A wolf is struggling to eat a piece of meat stuck between two rocks. A crane suggests that the wolf should drop the meat and then retrieve it after the wolf has jumped over the crane's back. The wolf agrees, but when he jumps, the crane swoops up and carries off the meat.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1872 · Genre: Fable, Allegory, Children's Literature · 108 words
First lines
A Wolf had a bone stuck in his throat, and could not cough it up. He called the Crane, and said to him:
"Crane, you have a long neck. Thrust your head into my throat and draw out the bone! I will reward you."
The Crane stuck his head in, pulled out the bone, and said:
"Give me my reward!"
Similar titles
- The Ant And The Dove by Leo Tolstoy
- The Cow And The Billy Goat by Leo Tolstoy
- The Wolf And The Goat by Leo Tolstoy
- The Mouse Under The Granary by Leo Tolstoy
- The Fox And The Goat by Leo Tolstoy
- The Crane And The Stork by Leo Tolstoy
Genres
- Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized animals and conveys a moral lesson, characteristic of fables.
- Allegory — The story represents broader themes of trust and betrayal, illustrating human behaviors through animal characters.
- Children's Literature — The simple plot and moral lesson make it suitable for a young audience.
- Short Story — The concise narrative structure and focused plot align with the characteristics of a short story.
Tags
Fable · Short Story · Animal Fiction · Moral Tale · Satire · Social Commentary · Russian Literature · 19th Century Literature · Classic Fable · Aesopian Fable · Didactic Fiction · Philosophical Fiction
What this Textopian page supports
The Wolf and the Crane is listed on Textopian as a fable by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1872 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Allegory, Children's Literature, Short Story, Moral Tale
- Length: 108 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wolf and the Crane by Leo Tolstoy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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